This Week:

• Audi exhibits a design study for a super sports car

• Lancia Nea - The Technological Heart Of Tomorrow’s Car

• "HYDROGEN1" At The Sydney Olympics

• Public-private partnership brings North America's first supplier manufacturing campus to south Chicago

• DaimlerChrysler AG and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Strengthen Alliance: Major Restructuring of Mitsubishi Motors Management 

• Egery, the First Internet Company Dedicated to European Drivers, To Unveil Initial Service Offer at the Paris Auto Show

• Honda Expands Production of General-Purpose Engines in North Carolina  
  .
• TMC to Bolster Latin American Operations 
  .
• Chrysler Brand to Unleash Minivan Advertising Campaign For Its All-New 2001 Voyager and Town & Country  

• General Motors Inaugurates GM Tradexchange in Europe 
  .
• Lear Corporation Announces Plans to Open New Manufacturing Operation in Germany  
  .
• Michael Johnston Joins Visteon Leadership As President and Chief Operating Officer 

© 1998 - 2000 Copyright & 
Disclaimer
Automotive Intelligence,
www.autointell.com
All Rights Reserved .
For questions please contact
editor@autointell.com  

News of  September 12, 2000

Honda Expands Production of General-Purpose Engines in North Carolina  

Production Capacity Increasing Three-Fold to One Million Units 

SWEPSONVILLE, N.C. - Honda Power Equipment Mfg., Inc. passed an important milepost toward becoming a volume producer of high-quality engines, as the first of what will soon become one million general-purpose engines per year left HPE's newly-expanded assembly line. 

Honda is the world's largest engine manufacturer, producing more than 11 million engines annually for its three product lines -- automobiles, motorcycles and power products -- and for sale to other manufacturers. "Over the past few years, we have focused on increasing the speed, efficiency and flexibility of our company," said Koichi Amemiya, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., as he addressed Honda associates and guests assembled at the HPE engine line off ceremony. "But our ultimate challenge is meeting the needs of our customers.  And the goal of customer satisfaction is the reason you have undertaken such great change here in North Carolina." 

In April 2000, HPE announced it would triple its annual production capacity from 300,000 general-purpose power equipment engines to one million units by October 2000 and create up to 50 new jobs, with a total new investment of $16 million.  The facility's general-purpose engines will be produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts. 

"HPE's role in today's expanding power equipment business has dramatically increased," said Shigeru Nakamura, president of HPE.  "While we used to make lawn mower engines at this facility, our evolution into a manufacturer of one million general purpose engines is significant and historic."  

In June, Honda began production of GC 160 series engines to be used in Honda lawn mowers and sold to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for use in a range of equipment including, but not limited to, water pumps, pressure washers and generators.  Assembly and machining of the new engines began in June 2000, and die casting in August.  HPE remains on target to reach its annual production capacity of one million units by October. 

HPE currently employs more than 335 associates at its 142,000 square foot facility, representing an existing investment of $66 million. HPE has produced more than one million lawn mowers and over one million engines since it opened in August 1984.  Honda R&D Americas, Inc. also maintains its North Carolina R&D Center adjacent to HPE in Swepsonville. 

(September 8, 2000)

.

[Homepage] [ News] [ Companies] [ Management] [ Publications] [ Events] [ Careers]
[Services] [Discussion] [ Guestbook] [ Search]